Melissa Miller Nece
Melissa Miller Nece is recognized as one of the foremost colored pencil artists in the country. Her enthusiasm and humor have made her a favorite speaker for arts groups and many have learned to love colored pencil thanks to her classes and workshops. She has taught colored pencil, drawing, and oil and acrylic painting at the Dunedin Fine Art Center since 1990 as well as workshops around Florida, and as far away as South Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
Since 2008, Melissa has served on the national governing board of the Colored Pencil Society of America, as ways and means director and president, and currently as corporate relations director, cultivating a strong working relationship with art materials manufacturers and distributors. She is now a 20-year merit signature member and a 5-year CPX signature member of the society. She is also a signature member and board member of the Miniature Artists of America, a member of the Florida Artist Group, a trustee of the Professional Association of Visual Artists and a member and past board member of the Miniature Art Society of Florida.
Melissa exhibits locally and in national and international juried exhibitions. Solo shows have been at Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta GA (2023), Troy Hayner Cultural Center, Troy, OH (2021), St Petersburg College (2016), Pasco Hernando State College (2009, 2015, 2022) and Dunedin Fine Art Center (1996, 2002). Among her numerous awards are Best of Shows at the PAVA annual Members Show (2010, 2021, 2023), CPSA–DC113 biennial “It’s Colored Pencil” (2019), the Lee County Alliance for the Arts All Florida Show (2017), Autumn Artfest in Live Oak FL (2011), and three times in the statewide Florida Artists Group annual shows (2009, 2006, 2001). She has four awards from CPSA International Exhibitions and three in the CPSA “Explore This!” online show. Her national and international miniature show awards include a Best of Show, nine First Place (medium and subject matter categories), and four Judge’s Choice.
The Artist’s Magazine, October 2012, featured her step-by-step article on a mixed media technique she developed. Books with her artwork include CPSA Signature Showcase, Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America, Creative Colored Pencil Portraits, and The Best of Colored Pencil, volumes 2, 3, and 5. Her original artworks are in private, corporate and public collections, including the City of Clearwater, Morton Plant Hospital, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, and at the Pencil Museum in Keswick, England. Multiple art materials companies have used her drawings in advertising, brochures and packaging.
Melissa finds inspiration in the Florida environment, particularly its beaches.
About Juxtapositions, Melissa says:
I am to convey the experience of being at the beach. We’ve all been slammed by the unexpected force of a wave – or maybe we eagerly entered into it. Here, three kids in the same place go in different directions, buffeted by forces they can’t control… seems like a metaphor for our times.
Drawn from my own photo using multiple brands of lightfast colored pencils on Stonehenge fawn paper.